Central buffer and coupling.



No. 726,068. PATENTED APR. 21, 1903.

VG. JOHNSTON, CENTRAL BUFFER AND COUPLING.

APPL-IUATION FILED NOV.14, 1902.

no momz'n.

FIG. 2.

UNITED STATES;

P TENT OFFICE.

GEORGE JOHNSTON, OF DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA.

CENTRAL BUFFER AND COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,068, dated April 21, 1903. Application filed November 14, 1992. Serial 1%. 131,425- lNo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE JOHNSTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, of Du rban, South Africa, but at present residing in Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, (whose full postal address is Belmont road, Liverpool, aforesaid.) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or in Connection with Central Buffers and Ooup lings, (for which application has been made in Great Britain, No. 18,784, dated August 26, 1902, and in Germany,filed September 4, 1902,) of which the followingisa specification.

This invention relates tocent-ral buffers and couplings which will automatically couple up and in which coupling-hooks are used for engaging the draw-link.

It will be understood fromthe following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectionalielevation of my buf fers with one coupling-hook raised; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, an end view. 7

Referring to the figures, A is the central buffer, which is shaped as shown, and B the buffing or draw bar. 7

Mounted upon the horizontal pin 0 in the buffer A is a coupling-hook D, the claw d of which is an arc of a circle whose center is the pin 0, and in proximity to the pin 0 the coupling-hook is formed with a'box E, containing a sliding plunger G, at rear of which is a spring E, which normally keeps the plunger extended.

H is a cross-pin passing through a slot in the plunger, which limits the stroke of the latter.

I is a fixed abutment in the buffer, and the head of the plunger normally rests on this abutment, thus keeping the hook D raised in the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the plunger ispresse'd forward-by the draw-link J of the opposing'e'bufi'er striking against it on two vehicles coming togethe r', it is disengagedv from the abutment, allowing the coupling-hook to fall down through the link and-through the orifice K in the buffer below the link. The head of the plunger G is so beveled as to admit of it being pressed back automatically by the abutment I when the coupling-hook is being raised. The coupling-hook can be raised by hand or by means of a chain coupled to the link L, and when raised the plunger automatically springs up over the abutment I and forms a stop which prevents the hook descending.

The buffers at each end of vehicle are made exactly similar, but one only in each pair is'provided with a coupling-link. The buffer-headis made with a bell-mouth a and a cavity wide enough to receive the couplinglink J. This cavity is preferably chamfered at. the sides m, but made flat at bottom m. The end of the vlink,wi1l therefore lie flat on this flat part m of "the buffer that is provided with a coupling-link, and the weight of the coupling-hook pressing on the top of the coupling-link holdsthe link in 'a horizontal line, so thatiwhen two vehicles are brought together the coupling-link of one buffer will approach the cavity M of'the other buifer horizontally,.and, furthermore,rthemouth aof the buffer being chamfered or bell-mouthed insures the link enteringit even if one bufier is on a lower plane than the adjacent buffer. The dotted lines -in.Fig. 1 show the path in which the claw d of the coupling-hook travels. If desired, the coupling-hook can be held raised by being'suspended by a chain coupled to the link L, and thus prevent the couplinghook falling down. The couplinghook could thus be retained in its raised position during shunting op erations,-s'o that vehicles will not automaticallycoupletogether.

The mode of action is as follows: When two vehicles come together, the draw-link of one buffer automatically enters the mouth of the opposingcentral'buff'er and is guided by the chamfered sides-into the exact position for the couplingrhook to fall, the draw-link J pushingback the plunger G fromengagement with the abutment I on the ,yehicles coming together. The coupling-hoolgatonce falls by gravity through thezlinkJ andethus fastens the bufiers together. The shoulder N coming againstthe vrear{iii-tire louder-head prevents the couplinghook falling down too far. The moment, however, the couplinghook is raised from the link J the chamfered head of the plunger G immediately it passes the abutment I springs forward into position and rests on the abutment I on the buifer, thus preventing the coupling-hook from again falling'into position until this or another link is again inserted, when the weight of the coupling-hook on the pushing back of the plunger G by the link J causes the said coupling-hook to fall and lock the coupling-link.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In automatic central buffers and couplings of that kind in which coupling-hooks are used for engaging draw-links, forming or providing the pivoted coupling-hook with a projecting hollow chamber or box, having a spring plunger or catch sliding therein, and the buffer with an abutment, said spring plunger or catch and the abutment being so combined and arranged that when the drawlink is pressed against the spring-plunger on two butters coming together it will be pushed out of engagement with the abutment allowing the coupling-hook to fall down and engage the link, thus fastening the two buifers together, while the moment the two vehicles are separated and the con pling-hook is raised, the spring-plunger will reengage the abutment and prevent the coupling-hook from again falling down until the same or another link is reinserted, substantially as described.

2. A central bufier and coupling having a coupling-hook for engaging the draw-link and a buffer-mouth for receiving the link in position for the claw of the hook to fall, in combination with a fixed abutment in the bufier, and a bevel-headed sliding plunger or catch projecting from the boss of the coupling-hook, and kept normally extended by means of a spring, so as to engage on said abutment and hold the coupling-hook raised, said plunger or catch being so arranged that on two vehicles coming together, the coupling-hook automatically pushes back the plunger clear of the abutment, leaving the hook free to fall through the link and fasten the two buifers together, the beveled end admitting of the plunger freely passing the abutment when raising the coupling-hook again,substantial1y as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 3d day of November, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. JOHNSTON.

\Vitnesses:

G. O. DYMOND, F. P. EVANS. 

